Pirates hit quick, beat Mustangs

Tuesday

Oct 15, 2013 at 12:10 AMOct 15, 2013 at 3:10 AM

MURPHY — Jose Mendez scored two of the Phoenix boys soccer team's three goals over a three-minute span and the Pirates' furious start led to a 4-0 Skyline Conference victory over Hidden Valley on Monday.

MURPHY — Jose Mendez scored two of the Phoenix boys soccer team's three goals over a three-minute span and the Pirates' furious start led to a 4-0 Skyline Conference victory over Hidden Valley on Monday.

Defense prompted the Pirates' first goal when Eli Espana made a steal, dribbled down the right side of the field and kicked one in from about 12 yards out in the ninth minute.

One minute later, Mendez collected the ball, which deflected off a defender on Espana's shot, and popped in another Pirates goal. Espana also set up Mendez's second straight goal at the 11-minute mark, which bolstered the Pirates' lead to 3-0.

Espana picked up his second assist in the second half when he knocked the ball over to Mateo Estrada, who dribbled around three defenders, squared up to the goal and fired the ball past the Mustangs' goalkeeper.

The Pirates (7-2-1, 7-0 Skyline) outshot the Mustangs (6-4-1, 3-4) 17-6 and received three saves from goalkeeper Hector Rocha.